Courtesans & Criminals: The Underworld of Hideo Gosha

Film Movement Classics

Courtesans & Criminals: The Underworld of Hideo Gosha

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This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Poochamin) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.

Onimasa: Matsue is the adoptive daughter of the Kiryuin House, a small yakuza clan in Shikoku. Onimasa, their leader, is the last heir to a family of samurai. He is hard in business but respected by the poor because of his fairness. Matsue lives in the middle of this society, between gang wars and rivalries among the chief's mistresses. But when Onimasa takes a chivalrous attitude and finds himself on the side of train workers on strike, it annoys the Great Godfather of the island. The story starts in 1918, ending with the nearing of the Second World War.

Japan's Official Submission to the 1982 Academy Awards. Presented in a new 4K restoration.

Tokyo Bordello: A ruined businessman was forced to sell his daughter, Hisano, to a brothel in Yoshiwara, the largest red-light district in Tokyo. After several months of training, she tries to flee Yoshiwara when the time has come for her to take her first customer.

directed by: Hideo Gosha
starring: Yuko Natori, Rino Katase, Jinpachi Nezu, Sayoko Ninomiya, Mariko Fuji
1982, 1987 / 279 min (combined) / 1.85:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 1.0, 2.0

Additional info:

Region A Blu-ray
Onimasa:
- Commentary by Japanese cinema scholar Jasper Sharp
- Video essay by TokyoScope author Patrick Macias
Tokyo Bordello:
- Commentary by Japanese cinema scholar Jasper Sharp
- Video essay by TokyoScope author Patrick Macias
English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.909091 / 5 from 66 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

This special limited edition double feature from Film Movement includes 'Onimasa' and 'Tokyo Bordello', both presented in stunning 4K restorations with new English subtitles. The set is limited to 2,000 units and comes with insightful commentaries and video essays by renowned scholars.

Summary topics

film quality: 20%
double feature release: 20%

Review topics: ["quality","shipping","looks","picture","style","deal","packaging","buy","sound","set","work","film","features","bill","release","movie","restoration","transfer","artwork","director","gosha","collection","filmmakers","extras","title","masterpiece","favorite of mine","treatment","dive","art"].

Review highlights

"A superb double feature from Film Movement, both movies look and sound spectacular, totally recommended!" — Jakob P.
"I would really highly recommend it, both films are intense and beautiful - with stunning new restorations." — Ewan G.
"Awesome releases, keep it up , awesome delivery, love the art works" — amar n.

Reviews

The Underworld of Hideo Gosha

"Excellent release and packaging."

— James R. (5/5)

More Gosha Please!

"Hideo Gosha is an underappreciated (in the west at least) master director and while these two later films are not his best work, they are still exceptional. Both films feature a commentary by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp and video essays by Patrick Macias."

— Trent S. (5/5)

Yakuza Underworld

"The Courtesans & Criminals: The Underworld of Hideo Gosha boxset from Film Movement is a carefully curated tribute to one of Japan’s most distinctive genre filmmakers. Centered on the work of Hideo Gosha, the collection dives into his late-period exploration of the yakuza underworld and the lives of marginalized women, blending crime drama with historical texture. Gosha’s films stand out for their intense character focus, striking visual compositions, and a tone that oscillates between brutality and melancholy, offering a more human and often tragic perspective on figures usually confined to genre archetypes. What makes this set particularly compelling is how it frames Gosha’s work not just as genre cinema, but as a reflection of social hierarchies and moral ambiguity in Japanese history. The films included emphasize strong female protagonists—often courtesans navigating systems of power and exploitation—alongside criminals bound by codes that are steadily eroding. Film Movement’s presentation elevates these films with restored transfers and contextual extras, making the boxset both an accessible entry point for newcomers and a rewarding deep dive for collectors interested in overlooked corners of Japanese cinema."

— Jaume M. (5/5)

This box set is a

"This box set is a real treat. ‘Tokyo Bordello’ is so visually stunning that I even bought the japanese Blu-ray a while back."

— Daniel F. (5/5)

What a great collection of

"What a great collection of films, both are top notch and Film Movement went out of their way with the beautiful transfers. Tatsuya Nakadai is wild in this he really goes off the rails but in a good way. Apparently this was Japan's answer to The Godfather but its so much more. This will definitely be a favorite of mine for years to come. Tokyo Bordello was excellent too, it's quite well done and the acting is fantastic especially by Yko Natori who plays the lead. Great purchase!"

— Bryan K. (5/5)

Stylish Period Pieces

"I highly enjoyed these films. And I love the director’s style. Highly recommended set of films."

— Jeffrey L. (5/5)

Violent, Intense, and Gritty

"I love these Hideo Gosha films that take place during the Meiji Restoration, seeing changes on the street level concerning a Yakuza boss and his rivals. The films also depict the life of women and the world of prostitution and servitude. Women must do what they have to, in order to survive."

— Joe Z. (5/5)

Excellent + Excellent . . . .

"Thank you "Film Movement Classics" for releasing these two stellar Japanese films by somehow unknown director, "Hideo Gosha", in one package. Both films have great transfers, excellent picture and sound quality and interesting and informative extras. I enjoyed both films. Would Love to see more releases like this !"

— Dennis B. (5/5)

A different take on the crime genre

"This set is an amazing deal. Two stunningly restored films in a gorgeous, spot gloss slipcover with a booklet. If you can snag this in a sale, you absolutely should! Great films by a talented filmmaker and handled very well."

— Jeremy A. (5/5)

Another great double feature with

"Another great double feature with another fantastic restoration. This set is one to get if you like your underworld tales gritty in the old style. The artwork is nice, too."

— JD C. (5/5)